DPR REINSTATES PUBLIC'S DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS IN REGIONAL HEAD ELECTIONS by Fardah

 Jakarta, Jan 23, 2015 (Antara) - The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) has finally agreed to place the reins of democracy in the hands of the public by allowing them to once again elect regional heads directly in the local elections.

          Two government regulations in lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 1 of 2014 on regional head elections and Perppu Number 2 of 2014 on regional governments were passed into laws by the DPR during a plenary meeting held on Jan. 20, 2015.

          The two Perppus were introduced by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono just before his term ended in October 2014, to annul Law Number 22 of 2014 on the election of provincial governors, district heads, and city mayors by the regional legislative assemblies rather than directly by the public.

          A day prior to the plenary meeting, the House's Commission II held a working meeting and agreed to pass the two Perppus but proposed some revisions in the regulations.

          "Today, we have endorsed the final draft, which will be brought up during a plenary session on Tuesday," Chairman of the House Commission II Rambe Kamarulzaman stated while leading a meeting at the parliament building on Jan. 19, 2015.

          The passage of the government regulation in lieu of the law on regional head elections into law will serve as a strong legal basis to hold direct regional head elections, he remarked.

          Earlier, a politician of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Yandri Susanto emphasized that it was urgent to deliberate the Perppus as the House is racing against time to face the simultaneous regional elections this year.

           Following the passage of the Perppus into law, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo expressed gratitude to the Parliament and agreed that some revisions were necessary to correct any overlapping articles.

          The minister revealed that simultaneous regional head elections to choose governors, district heads, and mayors in 2015 will be held in 204 autonomous regions in the country, and therefore, good preparations should be made, particularly by the General Elections Commission (KPU).

          In a hearing with the House's Commission II on Jan. 22, the KPU lauded the passage of the Perppus and expressed its readiness to organize the local elections in 2015.

          "The approval helps us to continue with our preparations," KPU Commissioner Hadar Nafis Gumay said.

          To revise the regulation, the KPU will involve legal experts Saldi Isra from Andalas University and Asep Yusuf Warlan from Parahyangan University, and Zudan Arif Fakrulloh, an expert staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

          Furthermore, Chairman of the KPU Husni Kamil Manik stated that simplifying the registration period and ways to resolve disputes during various stages of elections are among the improvements that could be proposed.

          "For instance, we will simplify the requirements if they are too difficult or abolish unnecessary articles," Manik explained.  
     Manik noted that the KPU has coordinated with the related agencies such as Bawaslu and the Honor Council Election for holding the regional elections.

          "We consolidate with the Provincial Election Commission and the district/sub-district administrations to ensure that all levels of the election organizers have already coordinated with the local governments," Manik stated.

          The KPU has simultaneously prepared the plan for the implementation of the elections along with making operational decisions regarding the commission's regulations.

          "The KPU's regulations have been compiled, and there are 10 regulations," he affirmed.

          The KPU has also carried out budget planning in coordination with the Provincial Election Commission and the provincial, city, and district governments that are related to the organization of the elections.

          "We propose an allocation worth Rp1.1 trillion in the 2015 revised state budget," he stated.

          In addition, he explained that the KPU has coordinated with the Ministry of Finance and the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) to discuss the budget planning.

          The implementation of the local elections will be financed by funds from the state budget.

          According to data from early 2014, Indonesia has 34 provinces, 420 districts, and 94 cities. A province is headed by a governor, a district by a district head, and a city by a mayor.

          The entire process of the simultaneous regional head elections will encompass the campaign period, the voting day, and the inauguration of the elected regional heads.

         A survey by Lembaga Survei Indonesia (LSI) revealed that 84.1 percent Indonesians prefer direct election of regional leaders, with only 5.8 percent seeking elections to be held by the local legislative councils (DPRD).

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